JUDGMENT

Subramonium Prasad, J. Aggrieved by the dismissal of the writ petition, being W.P.(C) No. 416/2021, vide Judgment dated 07.02.2022, passed by the learned Single Judge, the writ petitioners, i.e., Executive Pilots Association & Anr., have filed the instant appeal.

2. Shorn of details the facts leading to the instant LPA are as under:

i. It is stated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, since the aviation sector suffered a serious hit both commercially and financially, the Ministry of Civil Aviation took a conscious decision of reducing and then stopping the international and domestic flights for a considerable period of time.

ii. Since Air India was already a loss making public sector undertaking, a policy decision was taken to rationalize the allowances of its employees. This decision was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

iii. The cuts in allowances were made primarily in the case of the senior cadre employees of the organization, i.e., engineers, pilots and other general category officers. The decision to cut the salaries of the officers was taken by office orders dated 20.03.2020, 22.07.2020 and 18.12.2020. Vide the above said orders the allowances of